Communication amongst colleagues is said to be the biggest issue with anytime-anywhere work, according to a new study released.
The study, released in a report from the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), revealed that 65 per cent of the 379 individuals surveyed pointed to difficulties in communicating with colleagues as the main disadvantage of working off-site. Loneliness and isolation (57 per cent), and difficulty with communication technologies (53 per cent) followed closely behind.
Almost half (179 members) of those surveyed said that their organisations have policies covering flexible anytime-anywhere work practices. Of those with flexible work policies, 96 per cent reported that these included work health and safety issues in the home and 55 per cent reported having policies associated with working hours.
Apart from the difficulties in communication, the study highlighted the need for organisations to provide appropriate training if they are to put forward off-site work policies.
The findings revealed that 74 per cent of employees working flexibly are not being trained by their organisations, while 82 per cent reported that peers of flexible workers were going uncovered when it comes to training.
Peter Wilson AM, chairman of AHRI, said, “If organisations want to create sustainable flexible work cultures, the lowly figures in this study around training for managers of employees working off-site, the workers themselves, and their on-site colleagues, are not good enough.”
Flexible work practices are providing organisations with a competitive edge, which is all the more reason to provide the appropriate resources, says Wilson.
“Flexible work is finally about getting outcomes that boost quality and productivity which in turn contribute to competitiveness. In a fast changing world, the issue needs to be taken seriously and resourced appropriately.”
